For a beginning, then, let me say that Lady Arabella's letter makes clear some things which she intended--and also some things which she did not intend.

But, before I begin to draw deductions, let me ask you a few questions.

Adam, are you heart-whole, quite heart-whole, in the matter of Lady Arabella ?" His companion answered at once, each looking the other straight in the eyes during question and answer.
"Lady Arabella, sir, is a charming woman, and I should have deemed it a privilege to meet her--to talk to her--even--since I am in the confessional--to flirt a little with her.

But if you mean to ask if my affections are in any way engaged, I can emphatically answer 'No!'-- as indeed you will understand when presently I give you the reason.

Apart from that, there are the unpleasant details we discussed the other day." "Could you--would you mind giving me the reason now?
It will help us to understand what is before us, in the way of difficulty." "Certainly, sir.